Last year's inaugural Art of Film event at the Hall of State was quite the wingding as the great Elvis Mitchell and Robert Duvall informally, thoughtfully and quite giddily chatted about a great many things for a good long while before some 400 attendees were wined and dined upstairs. At the time, the Dallas Film Society (which puts on the annual Dallas International Film Festival) said it had hoped to turn the moneymaker into an annual event. And so it is: Moments ago we got word that this year's event will take place on November 18, with Mitchell -- the former Star-Telegram and New York Times film critic who's now the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's film curator -- once again holding court, this time with John Lithgow.

In the full release that follows, James Faust, the film society's artistic director, explains why they've invited the familiar face of stage and screen: "2012 will mark John Lithgow's 40th year on stage and screen and one can only marvel at his achievements of the past four decades. He is a rare breed -- he acts, sings, dances, writes and in all of these skill sets he consistently delivers a standard that others can only try to emulate. John Lithgow is a true star, and I am humbled and honored that we will have the opportunity to pay homage to him and put his accomplishments on a pedestal."

The following night, the Dallas Film Society will also screen two of Lithgow's films -- I've been told it'll be some combination of Terms of Endearment and The World According to Garp and The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (oh, fingers crossed). Theater remains TBD. Tickets for the event cost $250, and those interested in attending should contact Katie Layton at klayton@dallasfilm.org or call 214-720-0555.

THE DALLAS FILM SOCIETY to PRESENT THE ART OF FILM, HONORING FILM & THEATRE LEGEND JOHN LITHGOW

DALLAS, OCT. 13, 2011: The DALLAS Film Society, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that celebrates films and their impact on society, has announced it will honor screen and theatre legend, John Lithgow at their annual fall fundraising event The Art of Film on November 18, 2011, at the Hall of State, Fair Park.

Two-time Academy Award nominee and winner of two Golden Globe Awards, five Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, John Lithgow will be presented with the DALLAS Star Award during an evening that will celebrate the vast achievements of his career. The following day, November 19, the DALLAS Film Society will screen a retrospective of two of Lithgow's most famous films. The Art of Film is a rare opportunity for 350 film lovers to gather at an elegant dinner and be a part of an intimate conversation with Lithgow and renowned film critic, Elvis Mitchell.

"The DALLAS Film Society created The Art of Film to be a celebration of an extraordinary career," said James Faust, Artistic Director of the DALLAS Film Society. "2012 will mark John Lithgow's 40th year on stage and screen and one can only marvel at his achievements of the past four decades. He is a rare breed - he acts, sings, dances, writes and in all of these skill sets he consistently delivers a standard that others can only try to emulate. John Lithgow is a true star and I am humbled and honored that we will have the opportunity to pay homage to him and put his accomplishments on a pedestal."

The DALLAS Film Society honors individuals who have made important contributions to modern cinema and the advancement of the art of film. Lithgow joins a list of luminaries who have received the stunning Steuben Crystal DALLAS Star Award, courtesy of Neiman Marcus. Previous recipients have included, amongst others, Frank Darabont, Adrien Brody, Lauren Bacall, Sydney Pollack, Charlize Theron, John Lee Hancock, Kathryn Bigelow, Francis Ford Coppola, Helen Hunt, Marvin Hamlisch, Peter Bogdanovich, Robert Towne and 2010 The Art of Film Honoree, Robert Duvall.

Lithgow's interests and talents span all areas of the entertainment industry: theatre, film, television and even author of eight NY Times best-selling children's picture books. At heart, Lithgow is a theatre actor. In 1973, he won a Tony Award only three weeks after his Broadway debut in David Storey's THE CHANGING ROOM. Since then, he has appeared on Broadway 19 times, earning another Tony for SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, three Tony Award nominations and four Drama Desk Awards, as well as being inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame. He is one of only a very few American actors ever invited to join The Royal Shakespeare Company.

On screen, Lithgow began to make a major mark in the early 1980's. At that time, he was nominated for Academy Awards in back-to-back years for THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP (1982) and TERMS OF ENDEARMENT (1983). In the years before and after, he has appeared in over thirty films. Notable among them have been ALL THAT JAZZ (1979), BLOW OUT (1981), TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE (1983), FOOTLOOSE (1984), HARRY AND THE HENDERSONS (1987), MEMPHIS BELLE (1990), RAISING CAIN (1992), SHREK (2001), KINSEY (2004) and a flashy cameo in DREAMGIRLS (2006). Currently, he can be seen in theatres in Rupert Wyatt's RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (2011).

For television, Lithgow has been nominated for eleven Emmy Awards. Three of the five Emmy Awards he has won are perhaps for his most celebrated creation as Dick Solomon on the hit NBC comedy series 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN. Following the show's six year-run, Lithgow earned a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has recently found new success in television drama with Showtime's DEXTER.

Honorary Chair of The Art of Film, Faye C. Briggs and Chairs, Ann Swisher and Michael F. McGehee are working with the DALLAS Film Society to organize the event, which will help raise funds to support the DALLAS Film Society's year-round education and community outreach programs.

"Education is the cornerstone of the DALLAS Film Society's mission," said Tanya Foster, President and CEO of the Dallas Film Society. "Through The Art of Film, we can raise money and awareness to support this mission and help educate the next generation of filmmakers. Honoring John Lithgow also serves to motivate anyone interested in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. He has not only done it all, he has done it with style and class and that to me, is inspirational."

Individual tickets from $250 are available for purchase, and underwriting opportunities are available from $2,500-$35,000. Contact Katie Layton at klayton@dallasfilm.org or call 214.720.0555 for more information.